The Buckingham Chamber of Commerce celebrated its successes and recognized award winners at its annual banquet, which this year was held at the Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department in mid-January.
From left: Robbie Maxey, Jessica Moss & Ben Moss of Moss Tree Service – Best Business Award;
Kimberly Page– Volunteer of the Year Award; John O’Bryant– Lifetime Achievement Award.
NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT JOHN O’BRYANT
John O’Bryant was born May 1, 1944, in Buckingham County. He attended school in the county and made his mark here.
Upon graduation from Buckingham County High School, he joined the army. After serving three years, he made his home in Richmond; ten years later he heard Buckingham County calling to him: “Come home, John. We need you.”
John returned to Buckingham in 1975. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Dillwyn Fire Department, and the acting treasurer appointed John as the new treasurer. He continues to serve as the treasurer to this day.
Treasurer was not enough excitement for John, so he decided to become a member of the rescue squad within a year of becoming a volunteer for the fire department. As a member of the rescue squad, John faced responsibilities and duties beyond keeping track of money. Needless to say, John rose to the challenge; he was on call to head to the emergencies. John served on the rescue squad approximately 22 years from 1976 to 1998.
The following is from an article in The Farmville Herald of December 18, 1998, entitled “The AHA Honors O’Bryant”: “He became certified to teach first aid with the American Red Cross in 1976, working with volunteers from area rescue squads. During the early 1980s, John earned certificates as a CPR instructor with the American Heart Association and began volunteering with the AHA, teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Of course, he also continued working as a Red Cross first aid instructor. … In John’s words when asked how many people he has instructed, ‘I know there have been several thousand.’ How many lives have been saved because of his CPR instruction? John ‘retired’ after 20 years serving the AHA as a CPR teacher but remained as a unit volunteer.” If it weren’t for COVID, John would still be CPRing.
John joined the Masonic Lodge in 2007 and served as secretary “pro tem” in 2012 and became the secretary in 2013 and held that position until 2022.
John has also been involved in the Lion’s Club service organization since 1975 in multiple capacities. In 2008 he became treasurer where he continues today.
As a member of Maysville Presbyterian Church, John was an active member and was always willing and able to fulfil any needs of the church as a volunteer.
John is now a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where he serves as assistant treasurer and is involved with the buildings and grounds and wherever he can be of help.
NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT MOSS TREE SERVICE
Stonefield Farms Nominates Moss Tree Service for Business of the Year.
When Audra and I first moved to Buckingham, we looked around to find someone to help take down some massive oak trees that surrounded our home site. They had become overgrown and had dying limbs that had started falling from the trees. When we started searching for a tree service, Moss Tree Service stood out. Not only did they have a bucket truck, but they were local to the county. When Ben Moss and Robbie Maxey came to the house, they were prompt, polite, courteous, and gave us a fair quote. They have the safest tree cutting operation I’ve ever seen. This is important to us. Audra and I met riding together on a rescue squad. In Audra’s first year in emergency services, she responded to multiple tree-cutting fatality calls. The same year, my dad took a nasty shot to the head when a tree he was cutting kicked back. She hates being around tree cutting. Ben and Robbie’s safety and style put her completely at ease. She informed me that they are the only ones she wants taking down trees for us. We are not alone. They have an endless list of satisfied customers here in Buckingham.
That by itself is enough. But that is not all. There is a community aspect of Moss Tree Service that goes beyond a job well done. They are present in the community, quietly supporting the various activities that collectively make up Buckingham. These are just some of the folks they have helped. There are many others not listed here.
According to Brian Bates of the Buckingham Firefighters Association, Moss Tree Service is very supportive of the fire departments in Buckingham and helped out in a pinch, hanging banners at the Dillwyn Tractor Pull.
And if cutting trees and hanging banners for iconic Buckingham organizations isn’t enough, this is what Randi Perry Wright posted about our neighborhood heroes: “Thank you so much to the two men that stopped to help my 16-year-old this morning after she hit a cow on Raines Tavern. We are very grateful! Update: I have learned it was Ben and Robbie (I believe) from Moss Tree Service. Many, many thanks for stopping to make sure she was safe.”
All of this is why Moss Tree Service is the Buckingham Business of the Year.
Sincerely,
James L. Smith, III Stonefield Farms
NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT KIMBERLY S. PAGE
Public servitude and virtue are characteristics that are becoming less common these days, unfortunately. It seems as if people are more worried about “what’s in it for them” rather than what they can do to help others. It is reluctant to know that there are still people out there who continue to give back to our community with a true sense of compassion to help promote the common good. Now talking about being virtuous, this is a person that has done what they ‘ought’ to do. It is conforming to moral and ethical principles. In The Thirteen Necessary Virtues, Benjamin Franklin, one of our Founding Fathers, lists different virtuous qualities that are desirable and necessary to have which include:
5 Frugality- “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
#
6 Industry – “Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
I recommend that Kimberly S. Page be nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award. There is not some sort of function that Kim is not involved in. She is a dedicated member of the Dillwyn Volunteer Ladies Auxiliary and an active member of Cedar Baptist Church. In fact, she had directed Christmas plays in the past, participates in Youth Group and Sunday School.
Every week, I get on social media and see that Kim has shared some local event. You can always find Kim taking pictures as well of the local “happenings.” Additionally, she is a Math/Algebra teacher at the Buckingham County High School where she is also in charge of the Yearbook Club, assists with Senior activities and the Homecoming Parade.
Kim has coached and assisted with Buckingham County Youth League with various sports.
So, not only does public service dictate her extracurricular activities and hobbies (as you can see), but so does her full-time job as an educational leader to our children.
I will not forget this past Chicken BBQ at the Dillwyn Firehouse. Numerous Auxiliary members were absent due to a tragic event that occurred in our community. Kim grabbed the bull by the horns and called several of her friends, the night before, who were able to fill-in last minute. It was quite a success. We prepared more chicken dinners that day than I can ever remember.
As the years go by, I find that individuals are more worried about themselves and what will benefit them instead of the common good. I think it is appropriate and well-deserved that Kim S. Page receive the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Kim’s sense of virtue and public service are qualities we should all try to emulate.
Thank you- Justin Midkiff.
Please note the qualifications and accomplishments of these outstanding Buckingham County citizens in the nomination letters above. Nominations for these awards are accepted throughout the year, ending Dec. 31st. If you know of someone, or a business, deserving of recognition by the Buckingham County community, please call 983-2372 or send your letter to the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 951, Dillwyn, VA 23936.
The banquet also included the installation of officers and the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
From left: Brenda Jones (Director), Justin Midkiff (Director), Margaret Vance (Director), Jewel Harris (Director), Gil Ragland (Director), Sandra Moss (Newsletter Editor), Ruth Lyle (Treasurer), Faye Shumaker (Director), Eddie Slagle (Vice-President), Jordan Miles (Chairman), Brother Maximilian Watner (President). Director Barbara Wheeler was absent.
2024 Buckingham Chamber of Commerce Officers
Thomas Jordan Miles III, President
Brother Maximilian Watner, Vice-President
Sandra. Moss, Newsletter Editor and Chamber Founder
Faye Shumaker, Secretary
Ruth Lyle, Treasurer
Directors
Eddie Slagle
Brenda Jones
Barbara Wheeler
Jewel Harris
Margaret Stout
Justin Midkiff, who also serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court for Buckingham.